Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-13
Spraying Shade Trees.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In his address to the Public" on the subject OF
the web-worm, published in The EVENING STAR OF
June Mr.. Manu. formerly OF the Division OF Ento-
mology Of the Department OF Agriculture, sees At
to take issue with Prof Riley proposition to spray
the trees with an arsenical solution. No one
can possibly dispute his right to disagree with
Prof. Riley, and his reference to him as an s'un-
practical official whose position gives weight" &C,
may however, be said in further favor of spraying
and ID answer to the objections which Mr.. Mann
must premise with the fact that the tank cart
mentioned by Prot. Riley in his bulletin on "Our
shade Trees and their Insect DefOltators," and in
ms EVENING STAR articles was not, as Mr.. Mann
stateS invented for the purpose OF spraying cotton
fields, but was devised by Dr. Riley himself in the
summer Of 1889, especially for the purpose of
jections to spraying are: Eject Of the drippings
upon pedestrians, upon the men spraying, and
upon the horse; danger OF poisoning such birds
TO this may say from personal experience in spray
Ing with the apparatus recommended by Prof.
is ai
without the slightest resultant drip, so that neither
horse, pedestrian, nor workman could possibly SUI
habit of any bird to drink the water drops from the
leaves, and even If this habit were common 1t
would require many drops to bring about fatal re-
suits, as London purple (the substance especially
recommended) contains but 40 per cent OF arsenic,
and is used only In the proportions OF one pound to
habis to be ~ and the posonns pogsi bic
and frequent, the destruction OF our only true city
bird, the English sparrow, would be GOd-send, as
Drs. Coues and Merria lave so satisfactorily
shown.
agree with Mr. Mann that it would be well IL q
caterpillar law akin to the snow law could be en-
forced, but differ from him in that believe that
1t Will be much easier to induce the authorities to
bring about the destruction OF the early webs than
to INDUCE e popular sentiment which win make
each individual property holder ready to hold him.
SELF reSOODStOl0 for the destination Of the worms
upon his own immediate parking. II he is required
by law to do it he may try 1t in a desultory way;
yTS Rm 5na he at TO Se
time neglect the webs. The interest shown In the
discussion indicates that there will be exceptions
But the parking AUTHORITIES are u making an
effort. Gangs OF men are clipping the webs from
the box-elder trees and carting them OF on
10 e1
valuable results which viii not be brought about
by the work OF individuals; but they could do the
q tame and labor, and ID could do It more
70 each Cart The TOPS Of the trees SEQ, could se
would. BE destroyed, but also those sfill hatch
Ing. The work could be begun earlier, for it
would not be necessary 70 wait until the webs be-
for the mcktng OF the apparatus will be slight,
and once made it win last for years.
My advice would, therefore be, first, to the prop
trees in your gardens and from those in front OF
your houses; second, to the parking commission,
keep your men busy Win their poles as
pleted the work, and, as the new appropriation
becomes available, spend two or three hundred
dollars in lifting out a half dozen OF Prof. Rileys
tank-cartS With spray nOZZles and extension poles
and you will be ready for the second generation OF
the worms In August and for the first brood next
spring.
WEST WASHINGTON, June 10, 1857: any,